Dominque Anglade to step down as Quebec Liberal Party leader, reports say

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A little more than a month after leading the Liberal Party of Quebec to its worst electoral defeat in history, Dominique Anglade resigned as party leader and MNA position to announce a new campaign in Montreal. Saint-Henri Sainte-Anne, according to multiple news reports.

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Her presentation is scheduled for 10:30 am in Montreal.

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During the state’s campaign, Anglade said in an interview with the Montreal Gazette, “I knew it was going to be tough. But politics is about doing hard things. And about making hard changes.” But I don’t hesitate to take on challenges.”

Anglade’s announcement reflects her leadership, how she managed the campaign and, most recently, the expulsion of Vaudreuil MNA Marie-Claude Nichols from the Liberal caucus after the Liberal caucus refused to accept a role in the party’s shadow cabinet. It came after weeks of criticism of her decision to

These criticisms, initially made anonymously and amplified by former liberal ministers and MNAs on record, have become more intense over the past 10 days, with some observers speculating that she is leaving the leadership. I wondered when, not if.

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In the October 3 state elections, the Liberal Party fell to just 21 seats in the National Assembly, winning just 14.37% of the popular vote. This is behind Quebec Solidaire (15.4%) and Quebec Party 14.6%. However, the first post-election distortion of the system allowed the Liberal Party to form an official opposition party.

But the timing of Anglade’s departure comes at a troubling time for an already struggling party. The National Assembly is due to reconvene on November 29, and the Liberal Party is already bolstered by an electoral victory that has taken him 90 of his 125 seats in the legislative body, the coalition Avenir Quebec. form an official opposition to the government. The interim leader would need to be found within her 20-member (19-member) caucuses of the Liberal Party (if indeed she announced she would leave politics entirely), but no clear candidate to take over leadership would be No and the party is not ready. Political or logistical challenges that a leadership campaign would create in the short term.

Former president of the Quebec coalition Avenir, Anglade was first elected as a Liberal party in the November 9, 2015 by-election.